Patrick Jameson
| Patrick Geraint Jameson | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Jamie |
| Born |
10 November 1912 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 1 October 1996 (aged 83) Lower Hutt, New Zealand |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1936–1960 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Service number | 37813 |
| Unit | No. 46 Squadron RAF, No. 266 Squadron RAF, No. 331 Squadron RAF, No. 332 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 266 Squadron RAF, No. 331 Squadron RAF, No. 332 Squadron RAF, RAF Schleswigland, RAF Wunsdorf |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches (2) Norwegian War Cross |
Air Commodore Patrick Geraint "Jamie" Jameson CB, DSO, DFC & Bar (10 November 1912 – 1 October 1996) was a New Zealander who was a flying ace with the Royal Air Force.
Jameson was born on 10 November 1912 in Wellington, New Zealand and was educated in Lower Hutt before taking up employment as an assurance clerk with Colonial Mutual Life. He learned to fly privately in 1933 at the Wellington Aero Club, and in January 1936 left New Zealand and travelled to England.
In England, Jameson joined the Royal Air Force (Service Number 37813). He completed his flying training in January 1937 and was posted to No. 46 Squadron RAF.
At the outbreak of World War II, Jameson was a flight commander on 46 Sqn, flying Hurricanes. From April 1940 he took part in the Norwegian Campaign, In the campaign he destroyed a Junkers Ju 88 and had a share in two Dornier Do 26 flying boats.
In June it was decided to evacuate all Allied forces from Norway. On 7 June No. 46 Squadron landed its Hurricanes successfully on the flight deck of HMS Glorious, the first time Hurricanes had landed on a carrier. This was achieved by fixing sandbags under the tailplanes to shorten the landing run. Jameson led the first three aircraft in the attempt, and after making a successful landing (repeated by the other two pilots) he sent a radio signal and the rest of the squadron followed suit.
The carrier, along with the escort destroyers Ardent and Acasta, was intercepted on the way to the UK by the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau on 8 June. All three ships were eventually sunk by shelling. Jameson and his CO, S/L "Bing" Cross found themselves on a Carley float with thirty other survivors. After three days drifting in the freezing temperatures only seven men were alive to be picked up by the Norwegian cargo vessel, Borgund. The two RAF pilots being the only surviving pilots of their unit. Of some 1,474 men on board the three ships, only 45 survived.
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